Whisper to the Wind

(7) Fate

The days had become boring. All Whisper could do was sit in the bed and rest, drink water here and there, or read the book the green-haired lady had brought in for her. She had to entertain herself somehow. She began walking around the room or leaning out of the small window and watching the rest of the world go by. The campus of Alanex was very beautiful indeed. Located below Whisper was a large garden of various flowers and trees, all slowly fading to orange's and red's from the coming fall. Stretching out along the horizon and as far as she could see was Ripplewood. Whisper found herself staring at the trees she had called home her entire life for hours during the day. That was how Master V'yn found her one afternoon. 

"Good afternoon, Whisper. I see you are feeling much better," his warm voice announced as he stepped into the room. Whisper didn't look over her shoulder, but only nodded. Her eyes stayed on the tree tops of Ripplewood. 

"Master V'yn?" She asked after a few seconds. He made a quizzical sound from behind her. "Why am I here?" The question certainly threw the old man off guard and he paused for a while to think to himself, leaning against his gnarled staff for balance. 

"We, here at Alanex, believe in fate. We believe that you will find you Way, no matter if it is magic or not magic or fighting or not fighting, and that fate will help you get there. I believe that it was your destiny to come here to Alanex. You are not here by pure coincidence, child," he replied. Whisper nodded. She had never given much thought to fate before, but it seemed to make sense in her mind. What were the chances that a girl who had a name that sang of the Ways - as Master V'yn put it - find this school in the middle of a large forest running away from men who attacked her village? 

"Have you made your decision to if you want to stay at Alanex, Whisper?" She continued staring out at the trees. The only thing she had really thought about the past few day was her family. Whisper had thought of her sister and of her father. Most of all, she had thought of her mother. Ever since she could speak, she had always idolized her mother and her many talents. Her knowledge and wisdom had quided Whisper through many difficult tasks in her life. She needed her mother's insight now more than ever. 

Whisper didn't answer right away, but continued watching the wind blow through the leaves. "I think I have made my decision," she said finally. Behind her, Master V'yn straightened up against his staff and raised a bushy white eyebrow at the girl. Slowly, she slid out of the small window seal and turned to face the Academy master. "I'm going to stay here." The look in V'yn's eyes was undoubtedly surprise. He shifted her weight against the wooden staff. 

"My child, I am very glad to hear that." V'yn smiled warmly at Whisper, but she only lowered her eyes back to the ground. Her family had all been killed, her village and home had been burnt to the ground. What else did she have in life, other than to go to Valleystone and live with her prissy Aunt Virginia and her silent husband. No; Whisper believed there was more to life than that and if Master V'yn said that it was in her destiny, that the Way's ran through her blood, than so be it. She wasn't about to mess with destiny. "I already have a room in mind for you." Master V'yn turned and walked out into the hallway. He looked over his shoulder at the girl and she realized she was supposed to be following. 

Their walk through the building gave Whisper more of an idea of her surroundings. This building was obviously large, considering it took them at leave five minutes to travel from the medicine wing to the front steps. The entire building was made of a dusty brown stone. As they came down a large stair case into a small entrance, Whisper saw a large wooden table in the center of the room. Behind this table was another set of stairs leading down, out of the bulding and onto the Alanex campus. 

Whisper hadn't realized how much she had missed the fresh air. As soon as she had stepped foot outside, she paused, deeply breathing in the fresh air. Her eyes closed and she felt herself go back to that meadow of hers as the breeze kissed her skin. She opened her eyes, though, and took a few jogging steps to catch up to Master V'yn.